---
title: Campbell River dog leash rules and off-leash areas
question: "Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?"
place: Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/campbell-river
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Campbell River
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dog-leash-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dog-leash-rules.json"
---

# Campbell River dog leash rules and off-leash areas

**Question:** Where can dogs be off leash, and what are the leash rules?

**Short answer:** In Campbell River, a dog in a public place must be on a leash or chain no longer than 1.83 metres (6 feet), held by a competent person. The bylaw names three off-leash dog parks: Penfield, Robron and Evergreen, during posted times. The City's page also lists Doggie Point at McIvor Lake.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Campbell River, https://www.campbellriver.ca)  
**Cost:** A dog at large is a $200 municipal ticket. A nuisance dog at large is $500, a vicious dog $750 and a dangerous dog $1,000.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Animal Control (7 days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.), 236-472-1013

## Key facts

- **Leash rule:** In any public place a dog must be with a competent person on a leash or chain, unless it is in a designated off-leash area during its posted times and under effective control. Applies to nuisance, vicious and dangerous dogs too. Guide, service, RCMP and search and rescue dogs working under control are exempt.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), ss. 6.7, 6.14](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610)
  - Official wording: "that person on a leash or chain that does not exceed 1.83 meters (6 feet) in length" … "Is under the effective control of a competent person" … "are exempt from Sections 6.4, 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7" … "or the dog is in an area that is designated as Off-Leash Area during the times specified in" … "provided that the dog is under effective control of a competent person and is performing its function"
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), Part 2, Public Place](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610)
  - Official wording: "includes every street, road, boulevard, sidewalk, lane, square, parking lot,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Maximum leash length:** 1.83 metres (6 feet).
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), s. 6.7](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610)
  - Official wording: "leash or chain that does not exceed 1.83 meters (6 feet) in length"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Off-leash areas:** Penfield Dog Park, Robron Dog Park and Evergreen Dog Park, during posted times. The City page also lists Doggie Point at McIvor Lake (dogs must be under control). Maps are in Schedule C of the bylaw.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), Sch. C](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610)
  - Official wording: "Off-Leash Area Times available Off-Leash Penfield Dog Park During posted times Robron Dog Park During posted times" … "Penfield Dog Park During posted times Robron Dog Park During posted times Evergreen Dog Park During posted times" … "Robron Dog Park During posted times Evergreen Dog Park During posted times City of Campbell River | Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 Consolidated to Bylaw 3992, 2025"
  - Source: [Animal Control and Dog Licences, Off-Leash Dog Areas](https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/animal-control-dog-licences)
  - Official wording: "Doggie Point at McIvor Lake (dogs must be under control)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Places dogs are not allowed:** Dogs may not be in a restricted area of any park (except at authorized events), and may not enter a stream, pool or lake in a park. No animal on the Discovery Fishing Pier or a Tot Lot, or within 50 feet of playground apparatus. Guide, service, RCMP and search and rescue dogs at work are exempt from the first three.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), ss. 6.4-6.6](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610)
  - Official wording: "in a restricted area of any park" … "No Animal shall be permitted on the Discovery Fishing Pier or any Tot Lot." … "No Animal shall be permitted within 50 feet of any playground apparatus."
  - Source: [Parks Control Bylaw No. 2498, 1996 (consolidated), Parks Control Bylaw No. 2498, s. 3(b)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/2498-parks-control-bylaw-1996-consolidated-bylaw-3672-2017)
  - Official wording: "permit any dogs or other animals, owned or harboured by the person, to enter any stream, pool or lake;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cleaning up:** The owner or person with the dog must immediately remove its excrement from any public place or other private property and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), s. 6.8](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610)
  - Official wording: "unless the owner immediately takes steps to remove such excrement and to" … "dispose of it in a sanitary manner."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine, dog at large or off leash:** Municipal ticket: $200 for a dog at large (s. 6.7). Higher for a nuisance dog ($500), vicious dog ($750) or dangerous dog ($1,000) at large.
  - Source: [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025), Sch. 2](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog at large" … "Nuisance Dog at large" … "Vicious Dog at large" … "Dangerous Dog at large"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), title](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Control Bylaw](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610), a dog in any public place in Campbell River must be with a competent person on a leash or chain no longer than 1.83 metres (6 feet). The exception is a designated off-leash area during its posted times, where the dog must be under effective control. The leash rule also applies to nuisance, vicious and dangerous dogs.

## Good to know

- Off-leash dog parks in the bylaw (Schedule C has the maps): Penfield Dog Park, Robron Dog Park and Evergreen Dog Park, during posted times.
- The City's website also lists Doggie Point at McIvor Lake, where dogs must be under control. The bylaw does not name it, so confirm with Animal Control.
- Dogs may not be in a restricted area of a park (except at authorized events) or enter a stream, pool or lake in a park.
- No animal is allowed on the Discovery Fishing Pier or a Tot Lot, or within 50 feet of playground apparatus.
- Guide, service, RCMP and search and rescue dogs working under control are exempt from the leash rule and from the first three park rules above.
- You must immediately remove your dog's excrement from any public place or other private property and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control and Dog Licences (off-leash areas)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/animal-control-dog-licences)
- [Animal Control Bylaw 3520, 2013 (PDF, Schedule C)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610)

## Related questions

- [Campbell River dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dog-licence.md)
- [Campbell River rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dangerous-dogs.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dog leash rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/dog-leash-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control and Dog Licences, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/city-services/animal-control-dog-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3520-animal-control-bylaw-2013-consolidated-3610) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks Control Bylaw No. 2498, 1996 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/2498-parks-control-bylaw-1996-consolidated-bylaw-3672-2017) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025) (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Campbell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/dog-leash-rules/_